Woody Guthrie wrote thousands of songs in his lifetime—some are still being found today. Byt if you're just becoming acquainted with his work, here's a list of some of Woody Guthrie's most remarkable, influential, and memorable songs.
Smithsonian FolkwaysThis is easily one of Woody Guthrie's most popular songs. Written in response to "God Bless America," the refrain of this song was originally "God blessed America for me." In addition to paying tribute to the extraordinary beauty and natural resources of the country, the song also addresses themes of workers' rights and land ownership.
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lyricsThis song is similarly themed to "
This Land Is Your Land," although it much more pointedly addresses the concerns of migrant workers. |
lyricsGuthrie was a devoted Christian, and this song is one of many tributes to Jesus Christ that he wrote. It's also a song about the importance of activism and the tendancy of humankind to consider people who speak out for the common man to be anti-social or criminals. |
lyricsWoody Guthrie may have been considered hugely subversive as a songwriter for his day, but he was actually quite a devoted patriot. This song, written around the advent of World War II addressed all the remarkable accomplishments in human history, claiming that beating Hitler and the fascists was just another task for humankind to pull off. |
lyrics Woody Guthrie was a hugely empathic songwriter, and he saw much value in the heroes of the poor and working class. This story-song tells about the famous outlaw Pretty Boy Floyd, offering a little perspective to his legend, and suggesting that the term "criminal" is relative. |
lyrics This song recounts the Ludlow Massacre of 1913, where striking miners in Michigan saw numerous of their children trampled during a Christmas celebration, after someone wrongly claimed there was a fire. Guthrie's song notes the possibility that it was one of the angry bosses who baited the stampeding masses down a steep staircase, killing dozens of children in the process. |
lyricsThough he was born in Oklahoma, Guthrie spent some time living in Texas and Southern California, very near to the Mexico border. This is one of the more notable songs that he wrote as a tribute to the hard-working immigrants who crossed the border looking for a better life. |
lyricsWhere "Do Re Mi" addresses the aftermath of the Dust Bowl exodus, "Talking Dust Bowl Blues" addresses the whole story of how it started and what it felt like for the average person affected. |
lyricsThis song pays tribute to the countless people who lost their lives in the fight for unionization and the right to organize their workplace. A little-discussed part of American history, the song still retains its meaning as workers across all types of indutries seek the inspiration to demand fair pay and benefits. |
lyricsThis is one of Guthrie's most notable songs from his Dust Bowl Ballads collection, singing about the exodus of farmers and other folks who poured out of the "Dust Bowl" states to California seeking work. |
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